At 15.40 today Howth Coast Guard were tasked to a report from a member of the public that two people were in trouble on the cliffs. The team assembled quickly and went to the scene and searched for the casualties. Members of the public pointed the team to the location above Whitewaterbrook just north of the Baily lighthouse. The Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also tasked and was leaving Dublin airport. When the team arrived they found two young men had tried to climb up the cliff from the beach and were now stuck half way in a precarious position they could not get out of. Howth set up a cliff recovery and sent a rescue climber down to the casualties. The climber reached the first casualty and secured him as the helicopter was arriving on scene. The helicopter winch man was lowered to the second casualty and winched him up to the helicopter. The helicopter returned to the scene and recovered the first casualty from the cliff. Both were lowered to the Coast Guard team on the cliff top. No injuries were suffered by the men although one of them had slipped down the rocks before the CG team were on scene.

The rescue was conducted in front of many members of the public who gathered on the cliff opposite the scene to watch the events unfold.

Incident 05/08

Check out here for some bystander pictures of the rescue.

Some good pictures here also from Philip. Hey! we’re famous

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Howth CG were tasked at 2301 tonight to assist Gardai in Malahide to locate a person they were concerned for. They were already searching the shoreline of the estuary and the Garda helicopter was on scene. As Howth were assembling at the station word came through at 2310 that the person had been located so the team were stood down.

Incident 04/08

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At 1610 today at the request of Dublin Coast Guard MRCC two volunteers went to the Burrow beach in Sutton to check out a member of the public’s concern over an elderly woman seen crossing rocks. The volunteers spoke to the caller, checked the beach and surmised that the walker was gaining access to the Claremont beach from the Burrow over the rocks as the tide was in. Dublin MRCC was informed and Howth were stood down. Considered call with good intent.

Incident 03/08

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Howth Coast Guard were tasked this morning at 1020 to assist Malahide Gardai in a search for a person they were concerned for. Howth CG searched an area from the railway viaduct to the mouth of the estuary. Nothing was found and Howth were stood down at 1245. Gardai are still looking into the matter.

Incident 2/08

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Howth CG were tasked at 2314 tonight to go to the assistance of a motorist who had got into difficulty on Dollymount beach. The CG were tasked as the initial call suggested that a person was trapped by the incoming tide and that life may be in danger. On arriving on scene the CG unit established that it was only a car that was stuck and that the motorist concerned had managed to free themselves with the help of some bystanders. Gardai from Clontarf were also in attendance. Howth were stood down at 2345

Incident 1/08

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Colin, Paul and all the volunteers at the Howth Coast Guard Unit wish you a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

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MRCC Dublin tasked Howth CG unit today at 10.41 to investigate a report of a white flare seen East of the Baily lighthouse. Two volunteers responded quickly and went to the area. A search of the scene was quickly carried out, visability was very good, but nothing was seen. Ships passing the area also had nothing to report. A report was made to MRCC and Howth were stood down at 11.30.

Incident 53/07

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Howth Coast Guard were tasked at 1130 today to assist Malahide Gardai to look for a young woman seen down by the waters edge at the marina. The Gardai became concerned for her after they received a report from a local householder that the woman was seen hanging around the waters edge but had disappeared. Howth Coast Guard responded quickly and searched an area from the marina in Malahide to Low Rock on the Portmarnock Malahide road. A team also visited the village and some of it’s busy shops and coffee outlets.

Nothing was found and Malahide Gardai are investigating further. Howth were stood down at 1400

Incident 52/07

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“Howth Coast Guard, this is Fishing Trawler Alpha, Fishing Trawler Alpha” began the training exercise last Saturday. “We are moored in Howth Harbour and have a mechanic trapped injured in the engine room. Please assist immediately.”

Howth Coast Guard had organised a training exercise to evacuate an injured crewman from the engine room of a trawler. With engines running to simulate a noisy, hot & confined environment a Coast Guard team climbed down ladders, through tight hatches to the engine room below the water-line. The casualty had broken their ankle and received a suspected spinal injury on falling.

Trying to find best access to engine room.

One more level to go.

Leg Stuck.

Stabilising Casualty

Shouting over engine noise to create an evacuation plan.

Once stabilised, the casualty was transferred to a spine-board and stretcher for a vertical rescue through the hatches.

Emerging from the engine room.

Out of the engine room.

Carry through the middle deck to next hatch.

Up through the final hatch onto the upper deck and into daylight.

Carrying down the confined width outside the trawler wheelhouse.

Finally the casualty was transferred horizontally to another boat to reach along-side the pier.

Thanks to Skipper John Lynch on the trawler ‘Eblana‘ for allowing us to use his vessel for the training exercise.

Full photo gallery available.

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While out on a training exercise this afternoon Howth Coast Guard boat ‘Grainne’ received an urgent request from Dublin Coast Guard MRCC to go to the aid of an angling boat with eleven people on board which had run aground north of the entrance to Malahide estuary. On arrival Grainne’s crew transferred the passengers on the boat safely onto the beach at Malahide with three separate trips. Then Grainne managed to tow the 15 tonnes of the fishing boat off the sand where the boat was able to restart it’s engines and return to Malahide marina.

Incident 51/07

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